"The Lord said to Gideon, 'You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.' So twenty-two thousand men …
Tag: faith
When Satan Targets You
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I [Jesus] have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:31-32 NIV. Do you feel like you've got a target on your back? Does it seem like you're battling one thing …
When the World Gets Dark
"Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise." Hebrews 10:23 NLT. It's no secret that the world is getting darker. Maybe your own corner of the world is darker than it's ever been. The unthinkable happens. Health issues. Financial stress. Daily uncertainties. Maybe …
It’s Going to Be Okay
"I, Jude, am a slave to Jesus Christ and brother to James, writing to those loved by God the Father, called and kept safe by Jesus Christ. Relax, everything's going to be all right; rest, everything is coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way!" Jude 1-2 MSG. Sometimes you just want to …
A Time of Testing
"Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away." Luke 8:13 NIV. You're going to face unpleasant times of testing and discipline. This is not God punishing you …
When Things Don’t Make Sense
Asking "Why?" is liking pulling on a loose thread. Once you start tugging, things can unravel and leave you wondering how to make sense out of everything. The hard part is trusting God when things don't make sense - when things really hurt. If you choose instead to ask "Why?" and to stay determined to …
Your Rescue
From where you're standing, things may seem pretty hopeless. You may feel like there's no way out, and you can't see any help on the horizon. Maybe you feel alone and your strength is dwindling. You don't know how much more you can take. You have faith in God and you know He's good, but …
When You Don’t Fit In
I’m a little out of sorts right now. Every day I leave the sunshine, the blooming peony, and the bubbly calls of the wrens to come downstairs to my secluded basement office where I write Christmas stories. Yes. I’m writing Christmas stories as the temperature outside my tiny window reaches into the 80’s, my Christmas …
Comparing Yourself to Others
Do you compare yourself to others, thinking you need to be more like them to “make it?” Maybe there are days when you feel like a little bird perched on a branch with the sky above full of eagles and condors. You’re waiting. They’re flying. Just looking at them makes you feel like you’re the …
God Uses the Underdog
If you’re an underdog, the world may look down on you and think you’re not going to amount to much. But God knows better. God uses all sorts of people for His plans—if they are willing. That includes the world’s underdogs. You see, when someone is an underdog in the world’s eyes, that’s when God …
Joey Rudder 